Weight operated wheel brake



D. B. BOLINGER WEIGHT OPERATED WHEEL BRAKE June 28, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet1 Filed April 26, 1957 Donald B. Bo/z'nger INVENTOR.

D. B. BOLINGER WEIGHT OPERATED Wl-IEEZL BRAKE June 28, 1960 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 26, 1957 Donald B. Bol/nger IN V EN TOR.

WEIGHT UPERATED BRAKE Donald B.-Bolinger, 305'Normal Ave, Norma], 111.Filed Apr. 26,1957, SerQN'o. 655,370

Claims. (Cl. 188-176) This invention relates to furniture and moreparticularly to a locking device for the wheel of certain types offurniture. I

The object of the invention is to provide in improvements in furnitureof the type which is generally sup ported on wheels so as to be easilymovable from one location to another. The invention permitseas'ymovem'ent of a furniture unit, for examplea bed frame, butautomatically locks so that the furniture will not slip or move whenbeing used in the desired location. The locking is done automaticallythat is, in response'to the weight load of the occupants or other userof the furniture.

Avery important application of the invention'is in connection with ametal bed from or similar unit that supports a spring and mattress, theinvention enabling the metal bed frame to remain freely movable whileunoccupied but yet, firmly lock in place if an additional weight loadbeyond that for which the spring loading is set, is placed on themattress. There-isa demand for such furniture in university dormitorim,hotels, motels wherea wall mounted bolster is attached to "the wall andthe box spring and mattress are placed on a metal frame. The weight ofthe frame, box spring and mattress is carried by the spring loadedwheel, keeping the wheel clear from the braking device, but when aperson sits or lies upon the bed, it locks in such manner that the boxspring'an'd mattress together with the frame which supports the samewill remain firmly in place permitting the mattress to be used as asofa.

When pushed under the bolster a person is able to sit on the bed,le'ana'gainst the bolster and the unit will remain in place and will notslide from under the bolster. However, when a person wishes to sleep atnight he may easily move the whole unit from underneath the bolster forsleeping. This is also true for cleaning under the bed.

A more particular object of the present invention is to provide anarticle of furniture or any other article having need for automaticlocking in response to a load condition, the Wheel being supported on aspring cantilever and the spring being so tensioned that the frame ofthe unit remains sufliciently elevated from the wheel so thatlthe wheelrotates freely. But, when a predetermined loading is on "the unit, abrake shoe attached to the bottom of the frame or if desired, the lowersurface of the frame itself, comes in contact with the'up'perperiphery'of the wheel causing it to lock and the unit to remainstationary. This means, then, that light loads maybe applied to the unitWithoutth'e-braking action. Therefore, the spring functions as a deviceto sense aipredetermined heavier load and to cause the wheel associatedwiththespring to become locked.

A carrier box such as would-supportf'parts, parcels, etc., would 'be anexample of :an application of the invention on something which-isnotstrictly an article of furniture and 'whichwould well take advantage-ofthe spring rate or'constant so that the spring fieXes sufiiciently toapply the brake action only under apredetermined loading.

--A furtherobject of thepresent invention is to'provide tates Patent 02,942,698 Patented June 28, 1960 "ice a wheelcontrolled device for awheeled unit, the device including a wheel mounted on a cantileverspring which is so constructed and arranged that the entire spring iscapable of adjustment to new positions. In one form of my invention I amable to adjust the position of the wheel so that it is shifted to aposition removed from the original position. The result is that the unitis very quickly adjustable so that it is capable of sliding in anotherdirection. 0

The preceding description relates principally to embodiments that havewheels on a hired axis. A further object of the invention is to providea caster type wheel withmeansfor automatically braking the same. This isachieved by attaching -thewh'eelto a cantilever made of spring steel orlike material whereby the cantilever is capable of being rotated aboutan axis. In the caster type, the'wheel, cantileverand brake are capableof movement to new positions, and in the adjustable type, the sameessential organ zation prevails. In the fixed type, the cantilever willbe attached directly to the frame and no adjustment is provided for,although the wheels in all embodiments may be removed and replaced bywheels of difierent types.

A further object of the invention is to provide a practiwl device of thenature to be described wherein the invention fulfills a definite needand by a structural organization which may be produced at a low unitcost, surplanting the legs of the furniture and serving the additionalfunction which is not capable of performance by ordinary legs'o'ffurniture.

Other objects and features of importance will become apparent infollowing the description of the illustrated form of the invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a typical unit which is of furniture,practicing the principles of the invention, Salts1 being broken away toillustrate otherwise hidden etai Figure 2 is an end elevational view ofthe unit in Figure 1 with a part of the covering removed to illustrateotherwise hidden detail;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevation'al view showing one of the wheels asit would appear when the unit is under a load-condition sufficient toapply a braking action to that wheel; 7

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a frame having anotherembodiment of the invention applied thereto, this embodiment beingadjustable to a new selected position;

Figure 5 is a bottom perspective view of the embodiment of Figure '4;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevational view of a caster type wheel andbrake assembly showing the same mounted on a part of a frame; and

Figure 7 is a bottom view of the assembly in Figure 6.

Unit 10 schematically represents an article with which the principles ofthe invention are applied. It has metal frame 12 which has frame members13 and 15 and which is adjustable from a single bed to a double bedsize. Frame 12 has dimensions to snugly accept'box-spring 14 on whichmattress 16 is disposed. When in use unit 1%? generally has a covering18 thereon.

Two rear wheels 20 are carried on axles that are supported by wheelhangers 22 at the two rear corners of frame 12. Two'front wheelassemblies 23 are identical. Each has a wheel 24 disposed on axle 26which is carried by fork 28. Each fork is attached to an outer end of acantilevered leaf spring 30, the inner end 32 thereof being slightlyangulated and riveted or removably bolted to the undersurface of thehorizontal flange 34 of frame member 13 of frame 12. The vertical flangeof member 13 depends from the inner edge of the horizontal flange 34.

7 Forks 28 may be bolted to springs 30 so that they may be replaced byforks supporting different wheels.

plate 18 and is constructed identically to brake 39 of Figure 3. Itfunctions in the same wheel, coacting with ported at an elevatedposition above wheel24; Mounting 1 of sides '44 and46 and are riveted,ybolted or otherwise secured to horizontal flange 34. There isoneSlEhbMlte :shoe '40pr0vided for each wheel 24..

"'iIn use, the combined weight of -the frame, bonispring cars 48 and 50protrude later-ally fromthe upper ends 14, mattress '16. anda'reasonablecomplement of bedding flex enough so that the brake shoe'40would come in contact with the periphery of wheel 24. But, when loadedto the extent of supporting .a .person,'or other loading, the

force as indicated by the arrow 'F (Figure 3)- causes the frame togetherwith everything that thefframe supports to move down so thatbrake shoe40 contacts the periph cry of wheel24i This 'appliesabraking action tothe :wheel 24, "there being one at each front cornerof the unit '10;Therefore, theunit is capable of being manipulated very. easily but whenitis in use,-the two front wheels are braked. 'It is understood that iffound necessary or desirable there may be similar brakes on the backwheels 20 of the unit, or any multiple of the ion or morewheels .on anyunit.

As discussed previously the principles of the invention areapplicableto'a number of different units and one such unit is shown in thedrawing. This unit could-be .tional storage behind it. However, it is tobe vertically spaced from the floor to provide a cavity 64 thereunder.The unit it may be slipped into this cavity so that a part 'of itfunctions as a sofa seat. But, when the unit 10 is to be used as a bed,it may be pulled from beneath the bolster. During the time that the unit10 is used as a bed, 'the brake action on Wheels 24.;will keep it fromrolling or moving; The same benefit is obtained when the unit 10 is*slid under bolster 60 and intocavity 64. As soon as a person becomesseated upon the unit '10, the wheels 24 are locked preventing the unitfrom moving in an undesired fashion.

As shown in Figures 4 and 5 it is within the purview of the invention tohave the wheel assembly 80 adjustably attached to a frame, such as frame82, whereby'the position of wheel 84 with respect to the frame isalterable. The unit, then, is capable of rolling in one. direction, butthat direction may be selected in accordance with the prerogative of theowner by a simple adjustment. Frame 82 has a frame members '86 and 88connected at right assembly '80;

'or covering 1 8,fis insufiicient to cause the spring 30 to wheel 94instead of wheel 24. s V

In Figures 6 and 7 the frame is represented by frame member 120, thelatter having an upstanding flange 122 and an approximately horizontalflange '124. Wheel assembly 126 is of the caster type since it iscapable of being adjusted about the axisofpin 128..which' is carried 7byflang e' 124. Assembly 126 has wheel 130mounted for rotation onaitle132. This axle is carriedby'its fork 134 which is bolted orotherwise secured to the end of a cantilever leaf spring-1346. The.spring is formed with an openloop 1'38, fork 134 being attached to anend while spindlefl28 fis passed through an opening in the opposite sideof loop 138. s

. Upper and lowersupport plates 140 and 142 bear against the lowersurfaceof flange 124 and the upper surface of spring 136 and hold aplurality of balls 141 captive therebetween. Accordingly, [spring 136and wheel carried by it are capable of easy rotation about thelongitudinal axis of spindle 128.

. Brake .144 is made of a brakeshoe 146 against which the periphery ofwheel 130 is brought in response to the load condition as describedpreviously in connection with the embodiment of Figure. 3 and asapplicable in connection with the embodimentof Figure 4. It isunnecessary to have more than one side and therefore only one isillustrated. This also applies to theembodiments of Figures 3 and, 4that is, either the side 44 or the side 46 may be omitted. Since side148is attached to the end of spring 138, the'brake 144 is adjustablewith the remainder of the wheel assembly, just as brake 39 of Figure 4is adjustable with wheelassembly 80..

principles of the invention. Further, since numerous The foregoing isconsidered as illustrative only of the to'the exact constructon andoperation shown and deangles to eachother and they function to supportwheel 'Thewheel assemblyhas a fork 90 carryingakle 92 on a which wheel94 is mounted for rotation. cantilevered leaf spring 96*is' riveted,"welded, or'oth'erwise secured V to the mounting'plate 98, and; eitherseparably or permanently carries the fork 90. Themounting'plate 98 isadapted to fit flush against the undersurface-of the frame members 38-or'96 depending on the selected adjustment which is made. A hole 100 isformed in the angulated end- 102 of spring. 96 and in the:mountingplate98, Bolt and nut assembly 1041s. passed through hole 100 andthrough a hole in the frame 82in order to establish an 7 axis ofoscillation for the wheel assembly (Figure 4). Brake '39 is attached tothe undersurface of mounting 0f the invention as claimed;

scribed and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents maybe resorted to, falling within the scope What is claimed as new isas'follows:

1. In a unit which is adapted to be moved from one place to another andto be used at least temporarily in a fixed position, the combination ofa frame, wheels supporting said frame, means operatively connected withat least some of said wheels fora'pplying. a braking action to saidwheels in response to the application of a load beyond a predeterminedweight limit on the unit, said means including for each wheel with whichsaid means are operatively connected, a wheel support, a leaf springattachedat one end to said structure and supporting the wheelandstructure in a' cantilever fashion, said spring being suificientlystrong to support the weight of said unit and flexing in response to theapplication of said predetermined load, brake means in the path ofmovement ofsaid wheelwhen said'leaf spring deflects and against whichthe wheel is adapted to contact when said predetermined load or 'agreater load is applied onto the unit thereby causing the leaf spring toflex, and'said 7 brake means includinga brake shoe platehaving an arengageable. W .v 2. In a unit which has'aframe provided with a framemember, means including at least onejwheelassembly cuate surface againstwhichthe periphery of said wheel to support said frame, said wheelassembly comprising- 3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said brakeincludes a shoe, said shoe having an arcuate surface adapted to bebrought in contact with said Wheel, and at least one side attached tosaid shoe and said cantilevered spring supporting said brake shoe abovesaid wheel.

4. In a unit which has a frame, and means for supporting the frame on asupporting surface, said means including a wheel, supporting structuremounting said wheel for rotation, a single leaf spring, a spindlestructure connected with said leaf spring intermediate the ends,

thereof and with said frame and mounting said leaf spring for rotationalmovement about an axis established by said spindle, said wheel supportstructure attached to one end of said leaf spring, said leaf springhaving a curved part between said end thereof and said spindle tothereby position said wheel and wheel support structure at a level belowsaid spindle, brake means at the opposite end of the same leaf springand cooperable with said wheel to prevent rotation of said Wheel.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said brake consists essentially ofa portion of said leaf spring at the last mentioned end thereof andwhich is provided with a curved Wheel periphery engaging surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS408,595 Dion Aug. 6, 1889 523,801 Vegiard July 31, 1894 1,755,537Deisler Apr. 22, 1930 1,759,424 Strauss May 20, 1930 2,059,420 Ward Nov.3, 1936 2,314,478 Brower Mar. 23, 1943 2,453,916 Inskeep Nov. 16, 1948

